Sunday, February 22, 2009


Paul Rishell & Annie Raines – A Night In Woodstock (Mojo Rodeo Records).

Paul Rishell and Annie Raines first met in 1992 when Raines sat in with Rishell on a gig in a Boston bar. Those who were there must have suspected that they were witnessing the beginning of a long standing partnership. A Night In Woodstock is their first live recording and also the first release on their fledgling Mojo Rodeo label. The pair has racked up hundreds of gigs and it is evident throughout this recording of how comfortable they are with each other. The opener, Blind Boy Fuller’s Custard Pie, is acoustic country blues which has a Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee style guitar and harp feel to it. A Night In Woodstock is a live album in every way and this is the best medium for the wailing vocal on Canned Heat Blues. This Tommy Johnson classic is superbly executed. Johnny Winter’s Dallas has slide guitar and is a classic blues of huge proportions. The first original song is Got To Fly, which has guitar and harp in the Terry/McGhee style again but it’s Raines who takes the vocal this time though. There’s not enough emotion in it for me but it is admirable taking on both harp and vocal. It’ll Be Me/I’ll Be Looking For You is sedate but has precision guitar from Rishell and moaning harp to make up for it. Louis Armstrong’s Old Man Mose is far more upbeat. It’s not a blues however but should be filed more under jazz/Americana.

Blues On A Holiday is laid back and nothing special but Can’t Use It No More has John Sebastian guesting. This gives us a more impassioned vocal and the added drums and piano are welcome. I’m A Lover Not A Fighter has country influenced guitar picking from Rishell and the impressive harp helps build it up to a good ‘un. Moving To The Country is an electric chugger. More of a country rocker this time and has the requisite vocal. Maybe just a little too much plodding for some people’s liking but the harp is as good as ever. Bad Credit is a vibrant, upbeat blues and Blue Shadows is mid-paced, rhythmic blues rocker with deliberate lead guitar. The show finishes with the classy Orange Dude Blues and this will leave you wanting more. Your wish shall be granted when the planned DVD comes out soon.

http://www.paulandannie.com/

David Blue.

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